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Court Sets Date To Hear Emefiele’s Applications On Forfeited Assests.

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Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court has fixed, Thursday, September 12, for the hearing of all applications challenging the temporary order forfeiting $2,045,045 and some property allegedly linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The then vacation Judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko had on August 15, ordered the interim forfeiture of the money and some landed properties after listening to an ex-parte application to that effect moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

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The lands are listed as two fully detached duplexes of identical structures situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped/bare land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 lying, being situated at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Others are a bungalow lying, being and situated at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bedroom duplex lying, being and situated at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; Industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot of land, lying, being and situate in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of the undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm OF lying, being and situate at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm lying, being and situate at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Aluko also ordered that two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust belonging to Emefiele be forfeited.

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After granting the ex-parte motion, the judge directed the EFCC to publish it in a national newspaper to enable anyone interested in the properties to appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the court should not grant the final order of forfeiture of the said properties in favour of the federal government

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, two lawyers, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and A. Labi-Lawal, appeared for the embattled former CBN Governor, Emefiele; also, another lawyer, Chibuzor Opara, announced his appearance for the occupants of 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

READ ALSO:Court Orders Seizure Of $4.7m, N830bn, Mansions, Others Linked To Ex-CBN Gov, Emefiele

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The EFCC lawyer, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, said that the court fixed the matter for Thursday to enable the anti-graft agency present a compliance report with the orders made on August 15, 2024.

Mrs Buhari-Bala also told the judge that the EFCC had filed an affidavit showing that the order was published on August 28, 2024, in a national newspaper.

She further claimed that she had received two processes from Emefiele and that the applications were not ripe for hearing.

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She, therefore, asked the court for a short date to enable her to respond to Emefiele’s applications.

For his part, Ojo (SAN), in his response, informed the court that the process filed on behalf of Emefiele is to stop further proceedings in the forfeiture suit.

He stated that, “The law says, where there is an application of such, the issue of final forfeiture should be stalled.”

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Ojo further informed the court that his client’s interlocutory application must be heard and determined before any further proceedings.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn to Monday for the hearing of his client’s application.

Opara, who appeared for the occupants of 8a, Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, told the court that he was yet to have all processes filed in the matter despite applying to the court for a search.

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He, therefore, urged the court for an adjournment to enable him to file his client’s processes.

Based on the development, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to September 12, 2024 for the hearing of the applications.

 

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Group Protests Alleged Sale Of Workers’ Housing Estate To NAF

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Bauchi State Concerned Citizens group has raised alarm over the alleged sale of 270 newly built housing units along Ningi-Kano Road, Bauchi, to the Nigerian Air Force.

Addressing the press, the group’s chairman, Comrade Aliyu Ladan, on Friday described the development as “an unfortunate and illegitimate move” that threatens the rights and welfare of Bauchi residents.

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“The houses were part of a 1,000-unit project initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to alleviate accommodation problems for workers.”

READ ALSO: NAF Debunks Fake Recruitment Advert, Warns Nigerians Against Fraudsters

He said the units had already been allocated to residents through a due process managed by the facility manager.

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Ladan accused the Federal Ministry of Housing of negotiating with the Air Force to take over the estate, a move he described as “a complete violation of residents’ fundamental rights.”

The group called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the decision could lead to unrest.

READ ALSO: NAF Airstrikes Kill Terrorists, Destroy Hideouts In Borno

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The group demanded the cancellation of the alleged sale and urged the government to protect residents’ rights.

Responding, State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Architect Nwamadu Herbert, stated that although negotiations are ongoing, no transfer has been made as directives are awaited from the Ministry’s headquarters.

He dismissed the protesters as “illegal occupants,” clarifying that the houses remain under the ministry’s custody pending directives from headquarters.

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Bauchi Gov To Corps Members: Advocate For National Development, Transformation

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Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has called on all the Narional Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to always advocate for national development and transformation in the country.

Mohammed, who made the call during the swearing in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 corps members on Friday, also urged them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieve the scheme’s objective of national unity and development.

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Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, Head of Civil Service in the state, the governor assured the corps members that the people of the state appreciated and supported the goals and objectives of the NYSC scheme.

Therefore, we have decided to collaborate with you in every possible way to ensure the success of the Scheme in the State.

READ ALSO: NYSC Deploys 1,700 Corps Members To Bauchi State

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“To this end, we have completed the renovation of corps members’ hostels and built a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.

“This is the first phase of the project and the second phase, which I assure would start very soon shall include, construction of staff accommodation, a clinic and other necessary facilities.

“I can assure you that my government would continue to do anything within the limit of our resources to make the corps members and staff comfortable during orientation exercises in the camp,” he said.

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Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state Coordinator of NYSC reminded the corps members that life in camp is highly regimented, adding that participants were expected to adhere to the orientation course timetable, NYSC Bye-laws, extant rules and other relevant policies.

READ ALSO: Cubana Chief Priest Mocks Hellen Atti Amid Paternity Dispute, Sparks Reactions Online

According to him, 1,107 corps members comprising 608 males and 499 females had been successfully registered before the commencement of the swearing in ceremony out of the 1,700 corps members posted to the state.

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He commended the state governor for his unwavering commitment to the realisation of the NYSC objectives in the state.

I am indeed happy for the complete renovation of corps members’ hostels at the NYSC permanent orientation camp and the construction of a brand new Multi-purpose Hall.

“There can be no better demonstration of commitment, love and fatherly care than what we are seeing in the camp now.

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“It is now clear for all to see that His Excellency is a great lover of the youths and particularly the corps members,” he said.

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JUST IN: NNPCL Boss, Ojulari Allegedly Forced To Resign

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The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, has allegedly been forced to sign a resignation letter.

This is according to a Peoples Gazette report on Saturday.

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According to the report, Ojulari was hijacked on Friday and pressured to sign a resignation letter by Ola Olukoyede, chairman of anti-graft EFCC, and Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the State Security Service.

It was reported that the alleged incident occurred on Friday, according to sources who spoke with the news platform.

Sources said Mr Ojulari was repeatedly questioned about what he might know of Olatimbo Ayinde, a British-Nigerian oil businesswoman who has recently emerged as one of the most powerful forces steering the Tinubu administration.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks NNPCL CEO, Mele Kyari, Names Replacement

Mr Ojulari told us he didn’t know Olatimbo Ayinde,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told Peoples Gazette.

However, the spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, has not officially responded to the enquiry on the matter.

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Also, Mr Ojulari did not immediately return multiple requests seeking comments about the development on Saturday afternoon.

Recall that NNPCL had recently raised alarm over sabotage of the state-owned oil firm’s leadership.

Ojulari was appointed in April 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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